Alan Paine Cricket Sweater

Sometimes a sweater comes along that you were just not expecting, a jumper that will truly stop you in your tracks. I was thus knocked for six by the Alan Paine Limited Edition England Cricket Sweater — a fantastic summer cable-knit sweater in dark cream cotton.

Lions of England

The sweater is based on the England cricket sweaters Paine produced in 1953, sporting the English cricket crest at the front in blue - the three lions of the Royal Arms of England beneath a crown. The knit will be a three or four-ply, I can't remember but it's chunky and heavy.

When I first took custody of the sweater, I needed to check something first and foremost. I peered nervously inside, and there it was - the original Paine of Godalming label.

Just think of the sweater-envy you would generate on the streets of Fukuoka or Turin with this beauty. Perfect for your New England campus too, youthful American pals. I have one, but I want you to have one too, so I hope that Alan Paine continue to resurrect the sweater.

About Alan Paine

Alan Paine was founded as Paine of Godalming in 1907 by William Paine. The Surrey-based company soon found fame for the cable-knit cricket sweaters it produced, plain and with club colours.

The Prince of Wales became a well-connected patron in the roaring 20s. During the Second World War - and regular readers will know that any British clothing company worthy of its heritage label has a military connection - Paine supplied sweaters to the British Armed Forces.

Paine of Godlaming became Alan Paine in the 1950s when William's son took over the business.

Fascinating Alan Paine Tidbit

In 1999, an American expedition found the body of English explorer George Mallory on Mount Everest after a 75-year disappearance. Mallory was one of the first British mountaineers to make a serious attempt on reaching the summit. Did he make it to the top?

Fascinatingly, a fragment of the clothing he had been wearing bore a Paine label, as shown inset in the image below. The main image shows Mallory in fetching boating clobber from his Cambridge days. He's the one at the back.

Sartorial tragedies

Wearing Paine clothing is like dressing in living British history. Warning: Those who forget their history are doomed to wearing appalling printed hoodies, cargo 'pants', 'socklets', the entire sorry litany of minor sartorial tragedies.